Poetic language speaks of the elusivity, the impossible seductions of thetrace â€“ trace of memory, desire, the dreams of an impossible languagewhich encompasses, of a presence which underpinsâ€¦

The language of poetry, with its rhythms of pulse and silence, thereflective pause of metaphor and the capacity for representation, isinextricably related to the language of memory and desire â€“ bothsubjective and social. This conference broadly investigates therelationship between poetry, trace and memory and whether collective andprivate pasts and subjectivities can find articulation through theflexible forms of poetic language. Is poetry a mode which at leastpartially restores the fragments of the past or transforms them to newpolitical and ethical ends? How does poetry negotiate bad histories andbad timing? Whose memory is being voiced or heard? What is therelationship between memory and feeling? How might new technologiesimpact on structures of memory? Is poetry possible today and if so, whatis its future? Can poetry evidence a archaeology of desire while engagingin a politics of ethical relationship?

Papers are invited which consider the theme of the trace in relation topoetry of any kind from classical antiquity to the contemporary. Thefollowing list suggests some possible areas for development, butproposals in any area relating to the conference theme of poetry and theconcept of trace will be welcome: